Saturday, January 31, 2009

Immunizations & Tips on Staying Healthy

Note to all team members: You will be in southern Mozambique, near the capital of Maputo, as well as Johannesburg, South Africa, and perhaps, if you go on the optional R&R, Kruger National Park in South Africa. It is important that you give this information to your travel clinic as the requirements may be different for each area.

We, as team leaders, cannot tell you exactly what you have to do to prepare to protect your health on this trip. That decision is between you and your health care provider. Because of the health risks that do exist in Mozambique, we strongly advise you to seek out a "travel doctor" or clinic that is familiar with international travel and current exposure potential.

Of course there is more to health care than immunizations...such as wearing sunblock and a hat and drinking plenty of water. Your physician will advise you on all of this, as well as other preventative measures.The travel clinic will want you to bring information regarding your up-to-date list of vaccinations, medications, allergies/sensitivities and recent illnesses.

In addition, we encourage you to have a routine check with your General Practitioner, regarding your blood pressure, medications, and overall health for this trip. Let him/her know what the "travel doctor" recommended for you and see if there is an agreeance.

For your information, as a measure towards preventing malaria, bed nets are provided where we will be staying. Also, for those of you who often donate blood, please note: You are not allowed to donate blood for at least 1 year after you have returned from a malarious area.

HIV is prevalent in Mozambique with a nationwide infection rate of roughly 16% yet as high as 20% in certain areas such as transport routes. For more information go to www.cdc.gov/travel/destinationMozambique. If you go to that website, there are other links mentioned that you can go to for further information.If your travel plans will take you to more than one country during a single trip, be sure to let your health-care provider know so that you can receive the appropriate vaccinations and information for all of your destinations.

Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in Mozambique, the government requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. If you will be traveling to one of these countries where yellow fever is present before arriving in Mozambique, this requirement must be taken into consideration.

Reminder: you are financially responsible for all costs concerning doctor visits and immunizations. These costs are NOT covered in the fees listed for this event.

IMMUNIZATIONS

To view current recommendations and reports on required or suggested immunizations, go to the web at http://www.cdc.gov/travel .To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it. Even if you have less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see a health-care provider for needed vaccines, anti-malaria drugs and other medications and information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling. CDC recommends that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. Find a travel medicine clinic near you by going to the web at: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentTravelClinics.aspx